Would you buy a horse that windsucks?

Polos

Polos

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I went to go view some horses yesterday and I ended up trying one I hadn't originally intended on trying, anyway the horse was lovely and he went really nicely on the flat and over fences and I could see myself having alot of fun with him. However, the only problem is is that he windsucks :(

I was talking to his owner and said he started it about 2 years ago when he went on loan. As a result of the windsucking his price has been reduced. He's a perfect pony club all rounder and he's been selected for teams in all disciplines and if his price had not been reduced I would not have been able to afford him. If it makes any difference he has just turned 11. I was just wondering what other peoples opinions are on buying a horse that windsucks.

Also a quick little update on the horse I last posted about- I have unforntunatley had to say 'he's not for me' as the local equestrian show centre's arena hire days where fully booked for another month and a half, my YO wouldn't let me try him at our yard on a proper surface and I couldn't find any other arenas to hire :( I didn't want to waste the owners time so I unfortunatley said that I couldn't loan/buy him and I wished her all the best in finding him a home. I was quite sad about that as I really liked him :(
 
I fell in love with a windsucker last summer when I briefly worked when I him. This spring he became mine and I could not be more pleased with him. He has a door chain instead of a door to his stable. He needs ready access to roughage, grazing is fine or plenty of hay and then he doesn't really anymore. If he's right I wouldn't let it stop me but be ready to repair fences if he doesn't stop it.
 
Is he a true windsucker (sucks in air without grabbing anything) or is he a crib biter (grabs a rail/stable door when he sucks in air)?

I have a crib biter and I have put some electric tape over the top rail of the fence to stop her from destroying it. I have also put a sacrificial plank of wood on the gate so that she has somewhere to crib. I don't put her in a collar as I'm not a fan of them.

Whichever vice it is - if the horse is perfect in every other way and the price is fair - yes I would go ahead and buy them. :)
 
A friend of mine has a horse that windsucks.
Before she rescued him, he was shut for one year in his stabble, never going out. He was a living skeleton, of of course was a bit neurotic. He was in such a state that my friend never dreamed of riding him one day. He got a lot better (I rode him a few years ago... a wonderfull horse), but the windsucking stayed. My friend had to remove everything he could use to rest his head on to do it. That meant to put an electric fence in the shelter.
Of course his case is extrem

But the problem is that horse kept aftermath of the windsucking. He has very poor teeth, stomach problems (colic? is that the word you would use? ), and ulcers.

I know that's an extrem exemple, but I would be very cautious buying that sort of horse. But of course it depends of the seriousness of the problem.
 
I have a cribber, hes a fantastic character, talented and always finds a way to make me smile!
With constant forage and a nice workload to keep him occupied he hardly cribs these days. Management is the key. :)
 
He might be a crib biter then as I saw him grabbing onto the top of his door and 'gulping'- sorry!

and regarding the price he is 5k- he's an 11yr old warmblood with good bloodlines. He has done well in ODE's ( done BE up to BE100), scores well in dressage, has been successful in all pony club activites, placed in national championships (eventing) and has a very scopey jump. He costs extra if he comes with his tack (I didn't ask how much though) Do you think this price is fair, should I go see him again or just keep looking?
 
Hmm, 5k, what are his results? The cribbing
/wind sucking issue isn't a problem for me but I'd like to know his competition record for that price.
 
No I wouldnt but thats my personal choice, I have a tb that cribs quite badly, he has horrendous teeth from doing it. It really annoys me when he does it, the noise especially! saying all that I love him dearly and he is fantastic in every other way. He lives out 24/7 now (ex-racer) but still does it. In one field more than another but thats probably because the second field has more post and rail. When he does come into the stable, I have to cover the manger with a rug and close the top grill so he doesnt do it on the metal stable door.
 
NEVER... We had a one on loan and sent it back
Firstly alot of yards wont let a windsucker on because its a vice and horses will copy
Secondly they wreck everthing fences and the stable costs you more money in the long run.
Horses may get damage to the front teeth. This constant grabbing of objects and pulling wears off the upper front teeth and can have an effect on the horse’s ability to graze at pasture.
Also they have a higher risk of getting colic because of the high intake of air.
They can also get splinters in thier lungs.
The list can go on and on and most of the time collars and stable toys dont work.
I wouldnt waste my money a better horse will come along. ;)
 
I'd be very cautious now as my friends WB dressage star just died from colic and windsucking which he did a lot of the vet said could have been a factor. He was kept like a competition horse on limited hay and limited turnout as he was a good doer and I don't think that helped.

But you may be able to sort a lot of it out with a more natural management regime such as a high fibre diet and lots of turn out.
 
My ex-eventer crib-bites. Think it depends on your management routine - a lot of livery yards don't particularly like them, though my cribber is kept at home she has been around loads of other horses (including youngsters) and nothing has ever copied her. We electric fence the top of all our fencing and keep her out as much as possible. I would happily buy one again, but I do think it reduces your market if you want to sell on after.
 
doesn't bother me in the slightest. One of my mares does it and has never passed it on as a habit to any field mates. She never wears a collar and I let her get on with it. I make sure she is kept as happy as possible and the rest of her wonderful character makes up for this one particular "problem".
 
I am debating the same question. The cribbing doesn't bother me but I worry about colic and ulcers, and ruining fences in rented field! What are insurance companies opinions with exclusions in others experience?
 
Personally, no - had one on our yard before, always colicky and terrible teeth - would stand in the field outside the house all night I'd turned out and do it, and it was stupidly loud! Cracking horse but wouldn't have paid much for him at all - one vice I can't stand!
 
cptrayes said:
No, it's a vice I absolutely loathe hearing and seeing, it sets my nerves on edge.
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my mare says that about humans who smoke :) one thing that did set my teeth ajingle the other day though was one of my horses when in ran his teeth up his neighbouring stable's metal bars....he may as well have got a chalk board and finger nails! Never seen him do it before or since, thankfully!!
 
Its not the worst vice being honest. Collars and plenty of field time sorts it. My friends TB does it when hes in the field or stable without his collar but he does it worse when hes got a hard feed.

If the horse was perfect in all other ways then it wouldnt put me off. Yes they say ulcers are more prevalent in cribbers and windsuckers but there are sups for it now so wouldnt bother me.
 
The owner gave me a quick summary of his results which I have written down in a previous post.

I was thinking of ringing her again to ask a bit more about his windsucking/crib biting and I could always ask for some more detailed competition results.
 
No. Especially not at that price. Insurance will likely exclude colic from a known cribber - not a situation I'd ever put myself in. Check with your insurance company first - a quick phone call to ask is all it will take and then yoy'll know where you stand.
 
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